In a small city (Pekin, IL) about 20 minutes from my hometown (San Jose, IL) there is a battle brewing over something that most of you will find unbelievable. The school system has banned the wearing of bandanas due to being a symbol for gangs and gang activity. Twenty four kids have been disciplined for violating anti-gang policy. This policy has been in the school handbook since 1993. It was not challenged until this year. Kids are fighting the policy because "there are no gangs in Pekin". Is the right to wear a bandana worth fighting the school system over?
FOR THE BANDANA WEARERS: Now I know wearing bandanas is not a problem in west central Illinois (at least that I know of) but many kids want to change their appearance to be noticed or to start a trend. Don't all people have the right to be "individuals"? We could all probably come up with something that we have worn that might be against the rules, or at least on the border of inappropriate.
AGAINST THE BANDANA WEARERS: I am a pretty firm believer in "if it is a rule, then follow it". I think this has a lot to do with my coaching background. The bottom line is that the school district is doing what they think is in the best interest of the school district and the kids. Do any of my students (or other readers) disagree with the school district in question? Why do you agree or disagree?
Posts
32 comments:
mr.carey I agree,I think that kids should be able to wear bandanas to school and if there is no gang members,they should stop thinking that there is gang members at school. And I think the kids should try to stop all of the stuff the techers and other people are saying.
samantha skirvin 8TH grade
I think kids should be able to wear bandanas because just since they wear them doesn't mean they are in(or want to be in) a gang.
MICHAEL SPRAGUE 7TH GRADE
Mr. Carey
Im sorry but I think that this must be the dumbest rule I have ever heard of. First off, just because you wear a bandana, does not mean that you are in a gang.
In our school, if you wore a bandana, people would label you as a hick, not a member of a gang. Not only is this stereotyping people that wear bandanas, but it is completely pointless. Why would you suspend a kid that wore a bandana instead of suspending a kid that cussed and just said inappropriate things all the time?
Secondly, people at school sometimes wear pants down to their ankles (I personally think this is a repulsive cry for attention). This is similar to people in gangs, but you dont see kids getting suspended for that.
There are many other dress code violations we should address before we consider bandanas. For example, spaghetti straps, shorts that fit girls like underwear, and shirts that show way too much cleavage and stomach. I mean are people really that ignorant to notice bandanas before these types of apparel.
Overall, I think this is a ridiculous rule. Kids should be able to wear whatever they please as long as it does not seriously offend anyone. (Honestly, anyone that gets seriously offended by a bandana is pathetic and needs help.)
-Catherine Richards
Catherine,
Holy cow! Did I strike a nerve?
Nobody said kids were not getting suspended for cussing and/or saying inappropriate things.
I do agree with you on the pants thing. Maybe a jean waist heighth should be in all school's handbooks.
Michael,
I agree that wearing a bandana does not mean you are in a gang...here at least. Maybe in '93 when the handbook was written there were problems with it in area schools.
I don't see what the big deal is about wearing bandanas.If only gang members wore thaem then that would be a little differnt. But not just gangs wear bandanas. My Grandma used to wear a bandana, does that mean she was in a gang?
I agrre about the pants thing. Thats pointless. I heard on the news that in some states it is illegal to wear pants that low in public. And it said if your caught you will be sentenced to 15 days in jail and a $100 dollar fine or something like that.
Mr. Carey,
I so totally agree with Catherine. If you ask me wearing a bandana-although it is often signs for large gangs all over the country-does not mean you are in a gang, especially in smaller areas-Compared to St. Louis where this would a bigger problem.-
The better way to see if there is gang involvement with the bandnans would be to look at the way the bandanas are being worn, the color, and a number of kids hanging out together wearing bandanas. Those would indicate gang involvement to me more than just wearing a bandana. If a group of kids are wearing the bandanas a certain way, or wearing a certain color, and getting into trouble a lot that would be a good way to see they think they are a "gang".
Catherine your paragraph about the dress code is correct. Before they think about bandanas they should look at the other problems with dress codes.
~*SaRaH* 8th grade
Sarah,
Good points on the different items that would classify gang activity. I am glad to see that some junior high students have some ethics concerning the dress code and school.
Matt,
I love the "grandma" statement! That is an excellent point.
mr carey, i think that kids should NOT wear their pants so low that you can almost see their.. Ahem.
u know what i mean... in chicago, when i went there about four years ago i saw, in a CLOTHING STORE, a rack that purposfully sold hip hugging and...lower pants for BOYS!!!!!! they also sold hiphuggers for girls that were much more moderate ;-) as for the bandanas, i think that if they can wear them without causing a fight or whatever, they could wear them...
However, that also should mean no:
skull bandanas
or anything that is innapropriate on the bandanas...
Grace behrensmeyer
Hey Mr. C!
wow you guys weren't kidding when you said Catherine gets into this :D
well this one just caught my eye because i went to pre-school for two years in Pekin.
That had nothing to do with this.. but anyways.
This is a dumb rule.. i agree with Catherine, they should be paying attention to the bullying and cussing before worrying about kids wearing bandanas.
wow thats just crazy.
-Courtney Rees!
Mr. Carey
Banning bandanas? Sorry if I’m not allowed to say this, but that is a very dumb rule. A bandana, in my eyes, is just like wearing a hat. It doesn’t symbolize a “gang”. I have recently been going to a youth group on Wednesday nights, and kids there wear bandanas all the time, and I know they are not gang related either. The kids are nice, and that is just their choice of apparel. I’m sure that they wear the bandanas to school as well. A gang is a group of kids who are causing trouble, or harm to others. Yes, people in gangs may wear bandanas, but that doesn’t mean every person wearing one is a gang member. I disagree with the rule of banning bandanas in school, and think that they should do away with the whole idea.
Jessa Patrick 8th grade
I agree wearing bandanas is a symbol of a gang and you should not be able to wear the in school. In your school you shouldnt be able to wear hats and bandanas are kinda hats so really you shouldnt be able to wear bandanas.
Shelton,
I am really surprised with your response! I thought for sure you would lean the other way.
Shelton,
How do you think that a bandana is a symbol of a gang? What if I were to come to school with a bandana on my head? Would you think that I'm in a gang? Just a thought.
Jessa Patrick 8th
Shelton that is crazy. Would you be scared if I came to school in a bandana? Would I be a one person gang???
Mr. Carey that last one was form Dallas Cookson sorry i forgot to put my name
I am agaist the ban of bandanas dallas! I will wear a bandana along with Mr.Carey and you. OK maybe not but you get what I'm saying. Bandanas are not a gang symbol!
Well a bandana is just a piece of clothing. No harm in them. Leave it alone, and let bandanas be worn in school!
Jessa
Why the heck are you guys fighting? And WOW I agree with Mr. Carey on what Catherine said. I agree with Shelton Bandanas should be baned IF there are local gang active. but like our school there ARE NO GANGS so i think the should let them wear bandanas wait i really don't know wich side to take. I'll think about it and i'll put another comment on which side i am taking.
Wearing a bandana, whether it stands for being in a gang or not, isn't really that big of a deal. Even if you were in a gang and everyone in the gang wears a bandana what is anyone going to do about it? I don't understand why they are making such a big deal about it because if a person is in a gang all people can do is judge them and not to mention propably stay away from them.
If they are going to make a big deal about people wearing something, I think they should just have school uniforms so no one can be judged by the way they dress.
-Hannah M.
Shelton,
Did you even know what you were typing???????
I guess you would be scared of me (even though you know me) if i show up on monday with a bandana.
that was me ,hannah, that wrote the last comment
Why would wearing a bandana make people think your in a gang? If thats true then what about shirts some gangs wear blue or red shirts will they ban them next! Its soooooooooo stupid there just bandanas alot of people use them to keep sweat out of there eyes not symbolize a gang member. I mean come on gangsters wear all sorts of stuff from ear rings to having no hair to make them look as if there in a gang!
By: Alex Zanger
mr.carey I totally agree with your statement, if its a rule follow it. I truthfully dont believe in all school rules, but this is outrageous. There is a kid that I go to church with, that wears a bandana, it's just part of his appearance. The kid is really nice. I think the rule should be changed.
chris e
Mr. Carey
i have to agree with you. that is so stupid. just because you wear a bandana doesn't mean you are involved in a gang. it would be like saying "if you wear a bracelet you will be kicked out of shool." come on get real. it seems like some schools are turning into one big rule book. what is next?
Courtney Porter
7th grade 4th hour
Mr.Carey
I think that is dumb. I have a whole bunch of bandanas. Just think i would have to get ride of all them if I went to that school. I would be really mad at the school for doing that. I would get a bunch of my friends and we would try to make the principal and staff to change their mind. I think that this is so dumb. come on let's be real.
I don't think that if you wear a bandana does not mean you want to be in a gang. If I wore a bandana they would sat i wanted to be in a gang. I don't want to be in a gang.
I think that they should let you wear them as long as they have no bad words or really bad stuff. If they wear bad things, they should only get in trouble. Instead of making everyone not wear badanas. This is only my opinoin.
Kaleen Lay
I am in total agreement with "dress codes" that limit or prohibit clothing that presents an indecent or amount of skin exposure. Clothes that are meant to be provocative or used to flaunt ones body should and rightfully are restricted in most school systems.
On the other hand clothing articles such as bandannas and other forms of hats should not be limited in their use. (Unless the school has specific policies restricting the wearing of hats.) The connotation given to bandannas and other articles of clothing or styles of dress caused by gang activities should no be a factor in deciding whether or not bandannas should be allowed, after all it is by a persons actions that they should be judged as to whether they are involved in gang activities not by their style of dress!
Clothing is just another form of expression that helps define our personal identities and separate us from one another. I am strongly for the allowance of personal expression and do not agree with disallowing the use of bandannas as clothing.
_Extremist_
I don't agree with the "no bandana's" rule, however i do agree with the no hats rule. The "no hat's" rule was put into place not just because hats are a distraction in class, but because it is a respect issue. You are supposed to remove your hat in front of a teacher because that is one way you are supposed to show your respect. Bandanas on the other hand, i think are a hair accessory and an item of one's wardrobe. I think that the school system should allow bandanas to be worn in school because one, it helps us, as the students, express our individualism, and two, as I have mentioned before, it is a hair accessory and a part of our wardrobe. Don't get me wrong, if they do allow them to be worn in school, I don't think they should be allowed to be worn in ways that relate to gangs (ex: rolled and around the arms, legs, etc...) This is how I feel.
Hey, my name is Brittney Heath and I was a student of Pekin Community High School and Nick [original suspension] is a good friend of mine. The most ridiculous thing about that issue was that he wore a bandana to keep his hair out of his face when he drove. His hair was the statement, not the bandana. He, in a way, wore a bandana for the safety of other students and drivers. It was ridiculous though. The school was pulling students into the dean's office as they entered the building, saying that had to call their parents and have a confrence call or a 10 day suspension. Our new principle that year was from L.A.. that's why we think this all happened.
i am currently attending pekin high school & i was there before this rule was established. my freshman year, we were allowed to wear bandana's & we did so for many reasons. when we got hot during gym class, kids used them to wipe away sweat. when we got hot during a school assembly, we used them. and many other kids wore them becasue it helped keep their hair out of their eyes. & some wore them to match their own individual outfit. but one day in the middle of my sophmore year, the deans of our high school decided that we needed to take them off. for what reason? the bandana's caused noi problems at the school. no violence, no gang activity, nothing to do with drugs.. by th admi nistration coming up with this new rule, it permanently damaged the teacher student reputation. we had lost our priveledge to be ourselves. but we had done nothing wrong to lose this. still to this day, it is a problem at pour school. now they tell us we cant even wear them at football games or outside the school after school is over. they tell us that we cannot wear them at all on school grounds or during school sponsered events. why? i jut want proof to justify teir thoughts..
--J. Talley
What was the outcome... was there a ban? I am in a Department of Defense school overseas which also has ban them because of gangs. This again was probably driven by a few teachers that came from schools with gangs. If they really think there are gangs in the Military school system then there must be no hope and gangs everywhere. What is the world coming too???
Post a Comment